Edward James Muybridge was a English Photography who was known for his studies of motion and motion-picture projection. He was famous for his photographs of the Yosemite valleys in California.
Over the years and development of film technology editing has completely changed.
Editing all started on June 19th 1873 a man called Eadweard Muybridge photographed a horse. This video came about in 1872 when the Governor of California Leland Stanford hired Eadweard for his photography. He did this to solve a debate in if when a horse galloped all four feet lifted of the ground.
He photographed it in fast motion by using 24 stereoscopic cameras. He placed all the cameras along the track which was parallel to the horses. The cameras were placed 21 inches apart and they covered 20 feet taken by the horse stride. They took pictures at one thousandth of a second.
Below is a video clip of the first ever video to be edited. This video was made by Eadweard Muybridge. When the images are then played back in 24 frames per second the human brain will think that it is on single moving image instead of lots of images.
Frames
A Frame rate is the rate of time that a device, for example a video camera, will produce an image called frames. Frames will most likely be expressed in seconds. It would written as 'frames per second' (FPS).
In the beginning of the film industry with silent films they usually used frame rates from 14 to 24 FPS. These frames where just enough that the brain would see it as a motion instead of just several images but it was a very jerky motion. They then used projectors that had either dual or triple blade shutters that would then multiply or triple the frame rate seen by the viewers. Thomas Edison expressed that 46 frames per second was an absolute minimum as anything less would be a strain on the eyes.
It was in the late 1920 when the frame rate changed in silent films. It was increased to between 20 and 26 FPS. This was because sound film was introduced in film speed but couldn't be tolerated as the ears are known to be more sensitive to changes in audio frequency. From 1927 to 1930 the rate of 24 FPS changed and became a standard for 35mm sound film which is a speed of 456 millimeters (18.0 in) per second. They could then just use a two-blade shutters to project the series of images at 48 per second. However some modern 35 mm film projectors still use three-blade shutter that will give you 72 images per second, which makes each frames flash on screen three times.
The very first film cameras where a roll of film moves frames that where moved mechanically past a shutter and lens system. One was made in France by the Lumiere Brothers and the other in America by Thomas Edison and they were both made in about the same time in history.
The Lumiere Brothers
The Lumiere Brothers were Auguste Marie Louis Nicholas and Louis Jean were known to be the earliest film makers in history. The brothers grew up around technology as they both attended the largest technical school in Lyon and there father ran a photographic firm which both brothers workered at. Louis was the one that created the dry-plate process which was big step in the history of moving images.
In 1892 the brothers father retired and the brothers started the creation of moving pictures. The created many processes that then led up to the film camera for example the 'Film Perforations' this was advancing a film through a projector . The first footage recorded by this process was on march 19 1895. It was a simple film of just the workers leaving the Lumiere Factory.
It was in 1895 that the Lumieres held a private screening of projected motion pictures. This presentation included ten short films;
- La Sortie de l'Usine Lumiere a Lyon (Workers leaving the Factory) This film lasted 46 seconds.
- Le Jardinier (The Gardener) This film lasted 49 seconds.
- Le Debarquement du Congres de Photographie a Lyon (the disembarkemnt of a congress of Photographers in Lyon) This film lasted 48 Seconds.
- La Voltige (Horse Trick Riders) This film lasted 46 Seconds
- La Peche aux poissons rouge (fishing for goldfish) This film lasted 42 seconds.
- Les Forgerons (Blacksmiths) This film lasted 49 seconds.
- Repas de bebe (Baby's Breakfast) This film lasted 41 seconds.
- Le Saut a la Couverture (Jumping onto the Blanket) This film lasted 41 seconds.
- La Places des Cordeliers a Lyon (Cordeliers Square in Lyon) This film lasted 44 seconds.
- La Mer (The Sea) This film lasted 38 seconds.
Each film is 17 meters long which run through a projector lasts for 50 seconds. The first film was believed to be recorded later the same year in 1895 by a device made by someone called 'Leon Bouly' the camera device he made could record, develop and project motion pictures doing all production and post-production in one device. The Lumieres then did further development on the device.
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison was a businessman from America but was also an amazing inventor. He created many devices that had a massive influence on the world around us. You probably know him as the man who made the electric light bulb but he also invented the 'phonograph' and the 'motion picture camera'. He has been credited for many inventions that help us all communicate for example the telecommunications. On the list of many things that he invented it also includes the stock ticker, a mechanical vote recorder and a battery for an electric car, recorded music and the motion pictures.
In 1878 he created the sound recording and produced the 'Phonograph' but he also was patent for the motion picture camera known as 'Kinetograph'. He was maker of the electromechanical design of the camera, where as his employee known as W.K.L Dickson worked on the optical developments of the camera. Although most of the credit is awarded to Dickson for the camera.
But a different device known as the 'Kinetoscope' which he placed in arcades where people could pay pennies to view the short films through a peephole in the top. Both devices were publicly exhibited by May 20 1891.
In Camera Editing
These first films however were never edited. Mostly they had been shot using on single frame or from a single point of view. This is called In Camera Editing.
In Camera Editing is a video production technique. This is when the shots are shot in the exact order of the storyboard and the exact order to be viewed in. This takes a lot of time planning because the shots have to be perfect as there is no cutting out or editing after. When every scene is shot this means the whole Production is completely finished. The pro of In Camera Editing is that is reduces your budget dramatically therefor this technique is extremely common in student projects.
In Camera Editing is a video production technique. This is when the shots are shot in the exact order of the storyboard and the exact order to be viewed in. This takes a lot of time planning because the shots have to be perfect as there is no cutting out or editing after. When every scene is shot this means the whole Production is completely finished. The pro of In Camera Editing is that is reduces your budget dramatically therefor this technique is extremely common in student projects.
However even with all the editing we can use in this day in age, Editing in Camera still exists today. There is even a film festival dedicated to it called 'Straight 8 Film Festival'. In this festival there is a competition where filmmakers make an edited in camera movie on a straight 8mm film cartridge.
This video is called 'Connections' made for straight 8 made by Steve Oram and Nick Lear. This film actually Premiered in Cannes as an official Straight 8 selection.
Also below is a very early historical video shot with the same technique in 1902.
This film was made by a man called Edwin Stanton Portor. He was thought to be one of the first American filmmakers who did experiments in film editing. He worked on minor films before his film 'Life of an American Fireman' was distributed in 1903. This film became a massive breakthrough due to the film having a plot, action and closeups of a hand pulling a fire alarm.
Introducing Editing
As time moved and more technology was developed people expected more to come out of what they were watching. Also for filmmakers themselves using the technique in camera editing it became very difficult having to judge exactly where the shot had to start and finish to get it perfectly. This is when people started to want to trim shots and then alter the order of shorter sections of film called clips.
The first developments of editing was very basic. It was done by physically cutting and the pasting the negative film together using just a pair of scissors and a magnifying glass. The technique of when you cut film and reassembling them back together doesn't matter if its done by machine or hand is called 'Linear editing'.
In 1924 a device called the 'Moviola' was created by a man called Iwan Serrurier. It was the first machine for motion picture editing and it allowed you to view the film whilst editing. The Company 'Moviola' still exist today which is located in Hollywood and part of the facility is actually still located on one of the original 'Moviola' factory floors.
The Device enabled people to study their shots in the cutting rooms to give them a more precise idea of where to cut. These devices were commonly used in America up untill in the 1970's. However many filmmakers till prefer to use the Moviola's for example Michael Kahn who worked on Steven Spielberg's movie 'Munich' with the device which was then nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film editing in 2005.
Iwan Serrurier originally wanted the Moviola to be sold as a home movie projector to the public 1917. The Moviola came in a wooden cabinet but had a big cost of $600. In them days it would have been the equivalent to $20,000 therefore it didn't have many sales. He was given advice by a editor from Douglas Fairbanks studios and suggested he should change the device so that it could be used by film editors. The editing device 'Moviola' then came about in 1924 and the first one was actually sold to Douglas Fairbanks himself. It is known that even all these years down the line there is still a framed copy of the original receipt in the Moviola Company in Hollywood. Many other company's soon invested in a 'Moviola' including 'Universal Studios', 'Warner's Brothers' and many more. The 'Moviola's' products had to be expanded however when sound, 65mm and 70mm film was invented and people started to need portable editing equipment.
Steenbeck
Steenbeck is a German Company that was founded by a man called Wilhelm Steenbeck. This company is known for creating there own version of a editing machine. The machine is a flatbed film editing suite that can use both 16mm and 35 mm optical sound and also magnetic sound.
The name Steenbeck is well know in the film editing business and has over 25,000 machines used around the world. The company relocated in September 2003 to Venray and is still making editing suites. Since its distribution of the device it has came the industry standard.
Although many company use non-linear film editing the Steenbeck's layout is still used to control the process. This is because Steenbeck uses a lower light and controllable speed make it an extremely usable piece of equipment for film archives and restoration facilities. This is because prints can be quickly and easily inspect-able with minimal damage to movie projectors. Steenbeck's machine uses a soft-edged nylon rollers which makes it easy on film stock.
Invention of Video EditingSteenbeck is a German Company that was founded by a man called Wilhelm Steenbeck. This company is known for creating there own version of a editing machine. The machine is a flatbed film editing suite that can use both 16mm and 35 mm optical sound and also magnetic sound.
The name Steenbeck is well know in the film editing business and has over 25,000 machines used around the world. The company relocated in September 2003 to Venray and is still making editing suites. Since its distribution of the device it has came the industry standard.
Although many company use non-linear film editing the Steenbeck's layout is still used to control the process. This is because Steenbeck uses a lower light and controllable speed make it an extremely usable piece of equipment for film archives and restoration facilities. This is because prints can be quickly and easily inspect-able with minimal damage to movie projectors. Steenbeck's machine uses a soft-edged nylon rollers which makes it easy on film stock.
It wasn't until in 1951 that the whole idea of recording on something other than film came about by a company called Ampex. Ampex is a company in America and is based around electronics. IT was founded by a Alexander M Poniatoff in 1944. Although the company Ampex was once public it is now a privetly held company. Ampex is the company that first introduced the video tape recorder.
In 1948 it was that the very first tape recorder was shipped out. The first model was named Ampex Model 200A. The first ever two with the serial numbers 1 and 2 were first used in America to record the 'Bing Crosby Show'. it was the first ever delayed radio broadcast of this show. These tape recorders changed radio and all recording companies because of the amazing sound quality and audio disk cutting lathes.
Over the years the company developed and expanded and then moved over to California. The company then acquired Orradio Industries which turned into the Ampex magnetic tape division. It was then that recording studios where in demand to have Ampex products. A movie producer came to Ampex in 1952 as he was after making a high fidelity movie sound system that used magnetically recorded film.
This is when the 'Todd-AO motion picture sound system' came about. This system was first used in the movies 'Oklahoma' and 'The Robe'. Ampex was awarded the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for there technical achievement for the device.
It was after Ampex created the video tape that they created the VR-1000 in 1956. It wasn't the first tape recorder but it was the first broadcast quality recorder. It recorded a black and white picture with just a mono channel on a 2 inches wide video tape. The tape ran at 15 inches per second with the the pictures displayed from top to bottom using four heads on a rotation drum. This gave the recording a speed of approximately 1560 inches per second. The length of this tape meant that hour long programs could be recorded all on one reel. It was said that in 1956 one reel cost $300 and the machine cost $45,000.
The tape in the VR-1000 could be spliced exactly the same way audio tape could be however it took a lot more care as you would be editing both audio and video. This meant that it had to be cut at a very precise spot on the tape otherwise it wouldn't place smoothly whilst on air. The first magnetically recorded time-delayed television program using this machine was CBS 'Douglas Edwards and the News' on November the 30 1556.'
To do it perfectly you would have to develop the tape first, doing this meant that you could use a microscope to see where to make the cut. The Developer is made up of a solution of fine metal particles that are attracted by the magnetized parts on the tape. You would use a guillotine knife to cut the tape and then stick it together using £M video splicing tape and connect the two ends.
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In the 1980's Sony started marketing the ideas of "Electronic cinematography" using the Sony HDVS professional video camera. Although it didn't get much success it did create the earliest digitally shot feature movie 'Julie and Julia' that was produced in 1987. The HDCAM recorders and 1920 * 1080 pixel digital professional cameras based on CCD technology was re branded in 1998 as 'digital cinematography' and began to gain interest in the markets.
The movie 'Once upon a time in Mexico' was the first well known movie shot in 24 FPS HD digital video in may 2001.
Non-Linear Editing Systems
A Non-Linear editing system or (NLE) is a video or audio editing system that performs non-destructive editing on the material. This means after editing you still have the original material to go back on as you aren't using the cut and paste by hand technique.
The Editdroid had three screens one of which was the computer display, one small preview monitor and a larger rear-projected containing the cut that was controlled by a custom controller. The controller aka 'Touch Pad' was made up of a shuttle knob, trackball and LED buttons that had different functions. The Editdroid system was the first to introduce the timeline and also digital picture icons to identify raw source clips. After the edit was done it was then sent of were the film was spliced together in the right order.
The technology didn't really have any success after 'The Droid Works' closed down in 1987 with only 24 EditDroid's sold and was later sold to 'Avid'.
This was the first system that turned your footage into files that could be placed onto the editing timeline. However this couldn't have happened without the very first camera the Sony D1 that was released onto the market in 1986.
Once the footage was digital you are then able to manipulate and add effects transitions and many other things that only linear editing systems could make possible.
Story Telling
There is one purpose when it comes down to editing and it doesn't matter weather it is drama, news or documentary the purpose is always going to be storytelling. Editing is a amazing way to tell a story by controlling different POVs you can tell a story through the shots.
For example if you have two shots one being a women crying and the over a man laying on the floor. Looking at both shots separately the shots don't tell a story however edited together the audience would see a women cry at seeing someone laying dead on the floor. The concept of editing is so powerful you can make the audience see what you want them to see.
Genre
The Genre of a film is defined by the content and the style of the film for example, Horror, Comedy, Romance. When you find out a genre of a film there are certain things that you automatically expect to find.
Horror films are all about seeking a negative and bad reaction from the audience by playing on fears. Many scenes in the film will be editing in a way that is meant to startle the audience by rapid changes and sudden appearances. Horror films can be known to sometimes be genetic and predictable. This is sometimes due to the story line's. You also find a similar style of filming.
Here is a short scene from the film 'The Grudge'. I choose this scene because I think it shows most elements needed for a Horror.
The character in this scene is a young vulnerable girl and you automatically feel for her. The expression on her face shows how scarred she is therefore you know straight away she feels on edge therefor the audience feels on edge. You aren't fully aware of your surroundings as the frame is dark and just a close up on the girls face. Not knowing your surroundings as well makes you feel scared. Continually the music in the background is eary this automatically sets the scene to the audience. Then when the sudden white face comes on the screen it startles the audiences but the shot to the girls legs leaves a bit of the imagination to the audience as they don't know specifically if the girl is alive or whats happened to her.
Pace or Rhythm
The different pace of cutting is used to create tension from the audience. The more cuts in a minute the faster the pace.
This is a scene from the film 'Fast and the Furious'. I started watching this clip by counting how many cut away's there was in the first minute to count just over 34 cut away's. All cut away's were rough and fast pace that it created this sense of speed and dramatics. All the cut away's give you the full expanse of how much is actually happening in this scene it brings the audience into the scene itself.
Here is a scene from Titanic. The main thing I noticed from this scene is that even though there was cutaways there was a certain amount of time between each cut away with gave a more gentle tone to the film. This makes the audience more connected to the characters.
Combining shots into sequences to engage the viewer
This is all about a scene in which has a series of shots that raises questions for the audience and answers previous questions.
This is a scene from a soap drama 'Eastenders'. In this scene there are
multiple POVs. There is a conversation between two men in which one is acting really edgy an uneasy. Your instantly asking yourself question whilst watching this scene like why is he acting like that? What has he done?However there is another POV of a girl listening into the conversation between the two men. Seeing her your thinking to yourself, do the men know shes there? During the conversation between the men one seems to be getting irritated with the other in which he shows you footage on his phone. This footage then answers the question of who killed a previous character from the soap.
Conventions and Techniques
Shot Reverse Shot is a technique used in film where a character is shown looking at another character and then in reverse role the other character is then looking at the first character. The characters are facing opposite directions therefore the audience assumes that they are looking at each other.
I found this clips from the show 'Friends' As you can see both characters are faced the opposite way showing the audience that they are talking to each other. The shots bounce from one character to another throughout the conversation.
How to cut up a clip by setting in and out points?
Double click on the clip so that it opens into the viewer.
Clip on the precise moment that you want you in/out point.
Chose Mark In or Mark out on the toolbar.
Or you can either press 'Command' and 'I' for in point or 'O' for out point.
How to make a dissolve transition between two clips?
Put the pointer inbetween the clips you want the transition to be placed in.
How to add a wipe transition?
First click on the point that you want to add in the transition (Just like above).
Choose Effects, video transitions and the choose from the transitions in this case wipe transition.
How to edit in a cut-away into an interview?
Either if its a cut away of a video or a cut away of text you double click so that it appears in the viewing box.
Drag it until the screen on the right and place it into overlap.
Place the cut away on the bar on top.
Cutting to a soundtrack
Editing to a soundtrack is when the cuts are determined by the pace of the soundtrack. The sound track is used as a guideline at which the editor uses to cut clips to make the song beat.
A good example of cutting to a soundtrack is a music video by Alesha Dixon called Drummer boy. The Drum beat in this music video is fast paced and the editor is using the drum beat as a transition from one clips to another.
